Gender stereotypes

1. Gender Stereotypes

2. Gender Stereotypes: What are They?

Gender Stereotypes are generalizations
about a specific gender’s roles, attributes,
differences, etc.

3. What are Some Examples?

Men can't cook.
Women can’t drive.
Men are better at math.
Women take too long to get dressed.
Men are more successful.
Women are very emotional.
Men are meant for “tough” jobs.
Women are meant for housework and
raising children.

4. My Survey

In October I created a survey that had 10
questions that asked things such as
“Would males or females make a better
president?” Another question that I asked
was “Who makes better moral decisions:
a male or a female?”
This survey was sent to all teachers and
administrators in the school.

5. My Results

I received 52 responses.
You will see the results of the survey in
the next slides.

6. Who would make a better President: a male or a female?

35%
Male
Female
Not Sure
52%
13%

7. Who makes better moral decisions: a male or a female?

4%
38%
Male
Females
Not Sure
58%

8. If you were to offer a well-paying job to two equally suited candidates, would you choose the male or the female?

6%
19%
Males
Females
Not Sure
75%

9. Would you trust a male or a female more to take care of your finances? (I.E. Bank account balancing, accounting, taxes, etc.)

26%
Males
Females
Not Sure
50%
24%

10. Which gender is more strong-willed: males or females?

23%
33%
Males
Females
Not Sure
44%

11. Which gender would you expect to be more successful: males or females?

44%
46%
10%
Males
Females
Not Sure

12. Which gender is smarter: males or females?

10%
56%
34%
Males
Females
Not Sure

13. Which gender is more politically active(voting, running for office, helping with campaigns, etc.): males or females?

27%
Males
Females
Not Sure
10%
63%

14. Would you expect males or females to have college or higher degrees?

23%
Males
Females
Not Sure
56%
21%

15.  If you would think of somebody with a lower economic status, would you think of a male or a female?

If you would think of somebody with a
lower economic status, would you
think of a male or a female?
15%
Males
Females
Not Sure
48%
37%

16. Feedback

I was given feedback from the participants
of this survey. To make this survey better
for the future, I could add more specific
choices, ask for the gender of the
participant taking the survey, etc.

17. Stereotypes in Children

The second a baby’s gender is found out,
we start stereotyping. Of course, we
would decorate pink, frilly nursery for
girls, and a blue, masculine nursery for
boys.

18. Boys

Boys would often be seen playing
“construction worker” or with dinosaur
figures, action figures, trucks, etc. They
would be tough, be the “superhero”, and
“save the day”. More stereotypes are
being learned.

19. Girls

If you have ever observed a girl playing with a
dollhouse, she knows that she, the “Mommy”,
needs to take care of the children, clean, and get
meals cooked. She has learned common
stereotypes already.
Goldie Blox Video

20. Gender Stereotypes In The Media

According to a report from KFF.org, males in
the media were more likely to be shown “on
the job” than women. Men were also more
likely to talk about work than women.
Overall, fewer females were represented in the
media than males.
In TV shows, only 45% of the characters
represented were females, compared to males
being represented by 55%.
Some stereotypes of women in the media
portray them as being “ditzy, stupid, and
superficial”.

21. Why is Blue Associated With Boys and Pink With Girls?

Pink was first coupled with boys because
it was thought to be a “stronger” color.
In Christian Tradition, red was a “male”
color, so boys got the color pink.
The Virgin Mary was linked with the color
blue, so girls were given this color.

22.

After WWI, blue was broadly used for
male uniforms, and therefore, was
considered “masculine”.
Pink was therefore thought of as
“feminine”. “Think Pink” was a marketing
slogan used to encourage women to
“embrace their femininity”.
This stuck even to this day, as pink is
dedicated for girls, and blue reserved for
boys.

23. How Do These Stereotypes Affect Us Today?

Because women were thought of as
“weaker” in the past, it affects the gender
as a whole in the present.
Women were not allowed to vote in the
United States until the 1920’s, and in
some developing countries, they are still
not allowed to vote.

24. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

In 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law that
protects workers from discriminating pay.
According to TIME Magazine, women only
77 percent of what their male
counterparts make.

25.

Most women in the media are often
portrayed as “flawless”, therefore
influencing many young females to be
concerned that they aren’t “pretty
enough”. This can lead to body
displeasure and even eating disorders.

26. How Can We End These Stereotypes?

Parents can teach their children that men and
women are equal.
Parents can involve their children in activities
that don’t involve stereotypes, such as playing
co-ed sports.
People can avoid products that show
stereotypes, such as “play kitchens”, and action
figures.
Leaders can allow women more rights, such as
pay equal to their male counterparts.

27.

Reinforce behaviors that break the
invisible gender rules, such as men being
“stay at home dads” while women work
for a living.
Question generalizations that stereotype
genders(“Men are more successful”).
Don’t overemphasize physical appearance
to girls.

28. One Last Question:

What can you do to change the “Gender
Rules”?